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Along the Journey – Marked Down Jesus

Somebody in marketing came up with the idea. A new doll would be produced just in time for the holidays. It was a baby Jesus doll. Senior leadership for the department store signed off on it. The promotion people went to work. Here was their tag line: “Washable, cuddly, and unbreakable.” It was cleverly packaged in straw, plastic, and satin. The doll rested in a miniature manger. There were even a few lines from Luke 2 printed on the box. It was a great idea.

There was only one problem. The dolls didn’t sell, not at the projected numbers. People were just not buying them. The corporate execs were ready to write the whole thing off.

One store manager decided to make one last effort to move the dolls off the shelves. He created a display headed by a big banner that read:

“Baby Jesus, Marked down 50% – Get him while you can!”

Everybody is looking for a bargain these days, even in their religion. Consumer spirituality leaves a lot to be desired. When you consider what it cost Christ to offer us life, you can never be satisfied with a marked-down faith. A relationship with Christ is too important to cheapen or water down. He gave us His best. What have we offered Him?

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About Mark Wilbanks

Dr. Wilbanks became Wieuca’s fifth senior pastor in February of 2012. Mark’s father, Oliver Wilbanks, served as Associate Pastor here from 1966 to 1982. Wieuca had a tremendous influence in shaping Mark’s call to ministry during his teenage and young adult years. A graduate of both Southern and New Orleans Baptist Theological seminaries, Mark has served churches in Kentucky, Florida, and Georgia. He pastored Southside Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida for 17 years and Bradfordville First Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida for ten years. He and his wife, Kim, were married in 1979 and have two sons, Andy and Jordan. Andy is married to Lindsay and they have a son, Cade, a daughter, Ruthie, and welcomed their third child, Samuel, in October.